Chapter 114

That night, the Huishui County hall had indeed suffered heavy losses.

Had they not successfully annihilated all the invading enemies, the Qingyi Sect might truly have shaken the very foundation of the Yulong Gang.

Fortunately, replenishing Inner Disciples for the Yulong Gang was not difficult.

As long as Outer Disciples trained their cultivation techniques even a little, it was easy for them to reach the threshold of a Quasi-Martial Artist and fill the vacancies among the Inner Disciples.

Thus, Song Minshu was not overly grieved by the casualties among the Inner Disciples. What unsettled him was the realization that in gang conflicts, the slightest misstep could plunge one into an abyss of eternal ruin.

Su Wangchuan logged off and had a good night’s sleep.

When he woke in the morning, he saw several missed calls on his phone.

Instructor Yu had been calling frantically, almost as if the Yulong Gang had been wiped out overnight. Alarmed, Su Wangchuan hurriedly called back to ask what had happened.

“Wangchuan!”

“You finally woke up.”

“It’s like this.”

“Didn’t your Yulong Gang lose a batch of Inner Disciples? Now that you’re recruiting again, there are a few people in the company who meet the requirements…”

“The Inner Hall is under Hall Master Song. As long as they have Quasi-Martial Artist strength, they can enter. Just let them join directly.” Su Wangchuan looked puzzled. This was not the sort of matter that required pulling strings.

“The problem is that this group is from Heilong County. You just fought the Qingyi Sect. It may be difficult for them to get in.”

Instructor Yu explained.

Su Wangchuan felt even more exasperated.

“I don’t even know whether negotiations between the Qingyi Sect and our gang have gone smoothly. Sending people from Heilong County into the hall right now would be inappropriate.”

“Haha, the negotiations have already concluded.”

“I heard that the Qingyi Sect’s sect master personally went to the water stronghold to negotiate. Supposedly, he offered five hundred taels of gold and three second-rank martial arts, eight first-rank martial arts manuals as ransom. He also promised to relinquish all shipping business in Heilong County and assist your Yulong Gang in establishing a hall there. This time, the Qingyi Sect truly bled heavily.”

Upon hearing this, Su Wangchuan was instantly wide awake.

“Our Yulong Gang is going to establish a hall in Heilong County?”

“Of course. Since you’re taking over their shipping business, you must set up a hall there. Once that happens, the shipping business and protection fees in Heilong County will be completely integrated under the Yulong Gang.”

Instructor Yu could not hide a hint of envy.

“If I had known the Yulong Gang would soar like this, I would have joined it back then. The county magistrate at the yamen is a cowardly good-for-nothing, wasting his days eating and waiting to die. And going out on missions to handle cases is dangerous.”

After thinking for a moment, Su Wangchuan said,

“Put the matter of sending people on hold for now. If the Yulong Gang truly expands into Heilong County, they will need to recruit there. There is no need to bring them to Huishui County first… I will log into the game to check the situation. We’ll talk later.”

“That makes sense. Fine, I’ll wait.”

They ended the call.

After washing up and eating the breakfast delivered by the robot, Su Wangchuan logged into the game and entered spirit realm.

The moment he stepped out of the west wing, he heard Song Minshu’s vigorous voice echoing through the hall.

“Hold the stone lock level for ten breaths—pass!”

“Next!”

When Su Wangchuan reached the hall gate, he saw that even this early in the morning, a long queue had already formed outside.

Song Minshu had begun recruiting, replenishing the Inner Hall.

There was no choice.

In a single night, twenty-seven had died and more than thirty were wounded. The remaining manpower was insufficient to maintain daily dock operations, let alone ensure that each vessel had enough Quasi-Martial Artists as escorts. They had to recruit overnight.

“Hall Master, this sort of thing could be left to subordinates. Why trouble yourself personally?”

Su Wangchuan walked to Song Minshu’s side.

Seeing him, Song Minshu’s expression softened into a grin.

“I would like to!”

“But the Inner Hall truly lacks people. The brothers under me left early with the first batch of cargo ships. I’m practically alone here. If I don’t recruit, I’ll have to row the boats myself… sigh!”

By the end, he could not help but complain.

“Just last night, consoling and compensating the families of the fallen brothers nearly exhausted me… I really miss the days when I was just a helm leader. Simple. Easy…”

Su Wangchuan rolled his eyes.

“If you were still a helm leader, Constable Wu wouldn’t be inviting you to Laifeng Pavilion for casual spending.”

Several nearby gang members perked up instantly at the mention, ears pricked, exchanging knowing glances and barely suppressing their laughter.

Song Minshu’s old face reddened. He quickly changed the subject.

“By the way, Wangchuan…”

“The Gang Leader sent a carrier pigeon message. The Qingyi Sect’s sect master personally came bearing thorns to plead guilty. It seems this matter has been settled.”

“How much did they pay?”

“Five hundred taels of gold.”

Song Minshu raised a hand, unable to hide his excitement.

“The Gang Leader said that since we rendered great service and suffered heavy losses, our hall will be compensated first.”

He leaned in and lowered his voice.

“One hundred taels of gold as reward, plus another hundred taels of gold for pensions…”

“The Qingyi Sect also handed over all their martial arts manuals and ceded the shipping business in Heilong County. Brother Wangchuan, congratulations—you may very well be transferred to Heilong County to serve as hall master there!”

Song Minshu winked as he offered his congratulations.

Su Wangchuan’s expression changed slightly.

“That would be inappropriate. Is this the Gang Leader’s decision—or merely your conjecture? I killed two first-rank martial artists of the Qingyi Sect at the hall. The entire Qingyi Sect must hate me to the bone. Sending me to Heilong County would be pushing me straight into a pit of fire.”

He was not dazzled by the congratulations. He immediately sensed it was a dragon’s pool and tiger’s den.

If he went, survival would be uncertain.

Song Minshu’s expression shifted. He hurried to explain,

“The Gang Leader has not made a final decision, but everyone in the gang knows that you are already a first-rank martial artist. With such great merit, it is no longer suitable for you to remain as dock helm leader. It is said that Qin Ming is preparing to take over the dock helm position. That hall master seat will most likely fall to you.”

Su Wangchuan fell silent. Then he said,

“I trust the Gang Leader. He would not assign a young man without seniority to oversee all shipping affairs in Heilong County. I have no experience with cargo management, Inner Disciple supervision, escort logistics, or water routes.”

At this point, he suddenly looked at Song Minshu.

“Compared to me, there are many in the gang more suitable to preside over Heilong County.”

Song Minshu seemed to realize something. His face grew solemn.

“That… surely not.”

Sure enough—

By mid-morning, Gang Leader Yang Feiyue personally arrived at the hall, followed by Qin Ming and Elder Fang Kui.

Before the three of them, Yang Feiyue announced a major personnel appointment.

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